Beyond Outdated Tech: Brighton Hill Community School Unlocks Potential with Acer and Intel

Brighton Hill Community School, a forward-thinking coeducational secondary school in Basingstoke, Hampshire, is dedicated to providing an innovative, inclusive, and future-ready education. As a designated Training and Sports Specialist School, it constantly seeks ways to enhance teaching and learning.

Faced with aging technology and increasing demands for digital education, the school partnered with Acer for Education, supported by Intel^® and Microsoft, to transform its classroom experience with Acer TravelMate laptops powered by Intel^® Core^TM Ultra processors and enabled with Microsoft Copilot.

The Challenge

With 1,280 students and a rapidly evolving curriculum, Brighton Hill‘s leadership recognized the urgent need to modernize its outdated technology infrastructure. Existing devices were slow, limiting access to essential digital tools like Excel and web-based applications critical for coursework and non-exam assessments (NEAs). This resulted in significant lag, lost teaching time, and disengaged students.

The Solution

The school collaborated with Acer for Education to deploy a new fleet of Acer TravelMate laptops, equipped with Intel^® Core^TM Ultra processors. These cutting-edge devices deliver high-performance multitasking, fast boot-up, and the reliability essential for dynamic classroom environments.

Crucially, this rollout also enabled seamless integration with Microsoft Copilot, empowering both students and teachers to explore AI-assisted creativity, streamline lesson planning, and enhance classroom support. Furthermore, the program is designed to allow participating classrooms to utilize Intel Digital Readiness programs, such as Intel Skills for Innovation (Intel SFI). Intel SFI empowers educators by providing professional development to help them understand new skill requirements, create action plans, and develop competencies for technology-supported learning models. It facilitates future-ready skill-building and includes 21 Starter Packs with AI-infused content to engage educators in course design and lesson planning. 

“One of the most frustrating things in the classroom is delay. The Intel Core Ultra processors should speed that process up.” — Guy Wilkinson, Deputy Headteacher

Impact

The results have been transformational:

• Enhanced Teaching Efficiency: Teachers have experienced considerable time savings, particularly in lesson planning and resource creation, which is supported by the AI capabilities of Microsoft Copilot. The Intel^® Core^TM Ultra processors also contribute to this efficiency by providing fast and reliable performance, reducing frustrating delays in the classroom.
• Personalized Learning: With Copilot, teachers can now customize content for individual student needs, including generating visual prompts for creative writing and dynamic presentations. The integration of Intel Digital Readiness programs, including Intel SFI, further supports customized learning experiences for students and helps educators develop relevant skills.
• Reduced Workload: Educators are using AI to speed up repetitive tasks, such as creating PowerPoint presentations and developing schemes of work, which traditionally consume a large portion of a teacher’s time. The high-performance Acer TravelMate laptops powered by Intel^® Core^TM Ultra processors provide the necessary speed and reliability for these tasks, helping to reduce overall workload.
• Increased Student Engagement: The fast and responsive devices have eliminated lag, enabling new avenues for student exploration and self-directed learning. This has “levelled the playing field for students with special educational needs” and led to increased student engagement, learning, and progress. The program also aims to help students accelerate their learning.

“Copilot has been revolutionary. It’s helped me reduce workload, create better lessons faster, and even sparked curiosity in students.” — Charlie Jones, Head of English

“Since we’ve been running with the Acer TravelMate laptops, student engagement has been sky-high. Their learning and progress have increased.” — David Watkins, Deputy Head

Conclusion

Brighton Hill Community School’s investment in Acer TravelMate laptops, powered by Intel Core Ultra processors and integrated with Microsoft Copilot, has fundamentally reshaped its digital learning landscape. The inclusion of Intel Skills for Innovation further ensures that both teachers and students are equipped with future-ready skills, making them more productive and engaged. The school is now confidently positioned at the cutting edge of educational technology.